Home central vacuum system

[Trainer]

We will start construction on a new house next year. Have been considering a central vacuum system in the house. Would like some feedback on the following:

Advantages -

Disadvantages-

Cost -

Any input you can give is appreciated.

 

[Travelover]

I retrofitted one into my home. I bought the whole kit on the internet for about $600.

Advantages:
Noise is outside, in the garage. A muffler is available to further quiet it
Fine particles of dust that pass through filter also in garage, not in house
Very powerful suction
Wife insisted on it, now she vacuums while I drink beer
Just one dirty bag to empty, and lasts 6 months between emptying

Disadvantages:
20 foot hose is kind of bulky to haul around
20 foot hose doesn't reach extreme end of my added on porch
Hose can be rough on interior trim corners, if dragged
Blows warm air out of house, cold air leaks in to replace it (minor issue)

Overall, very happy with it and it sure would be easy to install during construction. Retrofitting is much harder! If unsure, plumb in the piping now for a nominal cost and add the power unit later.

 

[Ken_CT]

When I built my house many years ago, to save money, I installed the piping & wiring in the walls for a central vac system but did not buy the unit or power head assembly. I put drops into the basement to be hooked up later. When our old vacuum cleaner finally died years later, I installed the central vac system. I would never go back to a vacuun cleaner. Remember to put an electrical outlet near the wall hose connection.

 

[Tig]

We really like ours.
My observations.
Keep the runs as straight as possible. Sooner or later there will be a blockage and it's nice to be able to fish it out. In ours, I think condesation where the tube enters the cold garage in winter causes the dust to stick. After a couple years I have to unblock it.
I would put more outlets in and keep the hose as short as possible, 15'? We have a 25', it's a bit awkwark to manage.

 

[Tig]

One more thought. Somehow it seems that whenever I have time to be in the garage my wife has time to vacuum. They are quite loud even with the exhaust ported to the outdoors.

 

[texbaylea]

We have had central vacuum systems in our homes since the early 70's. A great addition to your house. I have attic mounted the power unit which works OK if you have easy access. You can hear the unit run but it is not loud - I like it that way since you know instantly if you have picked up something that is blocking air flow. Installing an electrical outlet close to the vacuum port makes it easier to use a power carpet head.

Vernon

 

[Trainer]

Now another question. Can I use PVC pipe for the duct? If so, I want to put in sweeping 90"s to help reduce plugging.

 

[Travelover]

Now another question. Can I use PVC pipe for the duct? If so, I want to put in sweeping 90"s to help reduce plugging.

Yes, you can use PVC pipe, but note that standard central vacuum piping is of a slightly different diameter and has thinner wall thickness. Google this a bit and you will see that one can buy adapters to standard PVC for the hose inlets and for the power unit. My kit came with lots of 45 degree angles elbows to minimize the radii of the turns. This is important if there are many turns necessary, because most velocity loss is at turns. Also the initial turn past the hose inlet is a tight 90 degree on the principle that anything that goes through this first turn can travel through the rest of the pipe. Getting a small object wedged "somewhere" in the piping would really be a pain to diagnose and fix.

As I mentioned, when I bought my kit, it came with all the pipe in 6 foot lengths and lots of elbows, 3 inlets, etc. I ended up extending mine to the garage rafters so I had a outlet in the middle and far end of my garage. Great for cleaning out the cars in place. I use a separate, shorter hose for the garage.

 

[kennyd]

I bought and installed a Imperium CV cyclone system from this company when I built my house. The service was great!

They include with all the inlet kits a 2" CV pipe to 2" PVC adapter, so you can use regular pipe and fittings. This was a great help to me so I did not have to worry about getting all the proper fittings ahead of time, especially while I was building the house on nights and weekends. There are also a lot more choices if fittings with regular PVC the the CV pipe.

I have my unit in the basement, and the exhaust goes outside. Also be sure to get the VacPan if you have hardwood floors, I have mine in the kitchen island and it's the most used inlet in the house!

 

[ldabe]

Kenny,
Since yours is in the basement, how is the noise?
Do you have the unit positioned in the middle or at an end?

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

Trainer,

A must have says the wife, things to consider:

1. The new units have the hose connected to the outlet so you do not have to drag and store the hose. I have no idea how much it costs but that maybe something to investigate.

2. My old hose wore out so I got a new one which is now 30' long from 25', makes getting into those far places easier.

3. I had both a bag and no bag units, I think the bag unit is much better, all in one container and you do not get a nose full of dust when you empty the bag like the no bag unit.

4. Do NOT glue the pipes together when u install, a lot easier to take apart when you get a clog.

5. Get a unit that has a electric power brush not of the vacuum powered type, I think they work better. Only you have to wire an AC outlet near the vacuum inlet, I think the new ones have both in one unit.

6. Get a dust pan inlet for the kitchen, when you sweep the floor, you just open the inlet up , it turns on the vacuum and you get it all and no dust pan to fuss with.

Enjoy!

 

[Travelover]

A couple more things:

There are two flavors of connectors . One makes the both 110v and hose connection and the other makes you plug in a separate electric cord. If you go with the cord option, you need to make sure an outlet is close (18")

When you plumb it, make sure your branches go off the side or top of the main pipe. Otherwise you create a trap and the dirt falls into the down pipes. This is a nasty surprise for someone opening up an inlet in the basement.

I agree to go with the electric power brush head vs vacuum operated - more power. I've never heard of not gluing the pipes together, seems like it would leak, but haven't tried it.

 

[texbaylea]

In my installation I taped a few crucial joints to allow disassembly in case of plugs. Primarily at elbows. However I have never suffered a plug in years of use.

Vernon

 

[SnowRidge]

I guess I'll take the opposite view. I had one in a new house I bought almost 30 years ago. It sucked.....but not too well. I haven't had one since, nor have I wanted one.

We use one of these. Ours was made in the US, and it is by far the best vacuum cleaner we have ever found. It wasn't cheap, however.

The company also makes central vacuums.

 

[kennyd]

Kenny,
Since yours is in the basement, how is the noise?
Do you have the unit positioned in the middle or at an end?

My unit is under the steps, in the middle of the basement. I created a "closet" that houses all the low voltage wiring (CAT5 for the network, Wireless Router, Cable Modem, CATV, Satellite, HD Antenna, FM Antenna Alarm, Telephone, and Window Candles) and CV system. The noise is not bad at all, much less than a regular vacuum. The key to the "quiet" is to vent the exhaust outside since that's where most of the noise comes from.

 

[Travelover]

........... The key to the "quiet" is to vent the exhaust outside since that's where most of the noise comes from.

This is true. I worked in the noise and vibration reduction business so I measured the output noise primary frequencies and tuned a straight through pipe with three 1/4 wave side branch resonators, finished with a small chamber lined with 1" thick absorptive material to catch the really high frequencies. It really knocks off the din with no restriction.

Neighbors think I'm nuts when they see this exhaust!